Electroculture Gardening 101
What is it, and How Does it Help Plants?
Electroculture gardening is sending shock waves through social media and the gardening world. By inserting metal rods into the soil or your garden pots, you can harness electricity in the soil and atmosphere and stimulate plant growth!
Electroculture’s History and Science
Researchers and scientists began experimenting with the idea that electrical currents could increase plant growth as far back as the 1800s. Still, the idea didn’t take off until the 1920s, when French inventor Justin Christofleau published “Electroculture,” a book on atmospheric electricity in gardening.
The introduction of chemical fertilizers in the mid-20th century replaced electroculture as a growing trend. However, as gardeners wake up to the effects of synthetic inputs on the soil, electroculture gardening is making a comeback. Scientists worldwide have also been experimenting to see if the practice can be introduced into agriculture as a replacement for fertilizer.
One 2009 study showed that generated electricity may increase the yield of oats and barley by as much as 22%. Another 2022 study published in Nature Food described how researchers planted two plots of peas; one plot was grown in an electric field and produced approximately a fifth more product.
Benefits of Electroculture
The premise is straightforward: copper antennas are coiled around wooden stakes and placed into the ground to capture electrical currents in the air. Proponents of the practice say it stimulates the production of plant hormones responsible for cell elongation and growth. Plants exhibit faster growth, larger yields and more abundant blooms. Electricity also enhances the movement of nutrients and water within the plant, improving overall plant health. Healthier, more resilient plants are naturally better equipped to ward off pests and diseases.
Electroculture: You Be The Scientist!
If you want to try electroculture methods in your garden, think like a scientist. Remember: a home gardener can’t access the large-scale, high-voltage plant electrification researchers have used for their results, so your findings may be less impressive.
Separate one group of plants and let it grow independently as a control group. For the second group, copper antennas should be placed on the ground. Keep a chart to track your results. Record what you observe, any changes in the plant’s appearance, and how much you harvest.
Enthusiasts claim that certain fruits and vegetables, such as leafy greens, carrots, peas, cucumbers, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and blueberries, are better suited for electroculture growing. Flowers that attract pollinators reportedly also do well with a little electroculture help.
You can buy affordable electroculture kits online or from big box stores or make your own.
How To Make An Electroculture Antenna
You will need a wooden dowel, wire snips, a hand saw, and a spiral template made from a paper towel roll or water bottle.
- Start by sawing off a section of dowel to the plant’s expected height at maturity plus another 8 inches.
- Next, twist the wire up the dowel so the wire loops are about 1 inch apart.
- Keep spiralling the wire around the template until it’s 4 to 6 inches past the end of the rod.
- Remove the template and stake the newly made antenna into the ground – north of the plant.
You’ve just made an electroculture antenna. Good luck and happy gardening!